Ski pole lock



J. M. QUIGG SKI POLE LOCK Nov. 28, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1965 IXCENTOR. JOANNE M. QU/GG BY ran 45?, A/NOBBE g GAMBEEAL ATTOAA/'V-S'.

J. M. QUIGG SKI POLE LOCK Nov. 28, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet :3

Filed Sept. 16, 1965 INVENTOR. JOA /\//\/.E M. QU/GG United States Patent l 3,354,675 SKI PULE LOCK .Ioanne M. Quigg, 2200 W. Brooks, 33, Norman, Okla. 730@ Filed Sept. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 487,854 2 Claims. (Cl. 70--53) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE The handle end of a ski pole is removable from the rest of the pole so that the midsection of a cord, stored in the pole and attached at its ends to the pole portions, can be wrapped around ski equipment and a fixed object. The handle end is then reassembled and locked to the pole by a lock formed on the handle portions.

This invention relates to a theft prevention device and, more particularly, to a device for locking ski poles and skis to a rack or other immovable fixture.

When skiers go in the lodge they must leave their skis and poles outside. If no security ski racks are provided by the lodge, they usually lean their equipment against an open rack or a tree. In order to prevent others from taking the skis and poles, skiers often use padlocks of one type or another; frequently with chains or straps which are wrapped around the equipment and then locked to the rack or tree.

Padlocks which must be carried separately from the skis and poles are a nuisance to the skier. Not only are they awkward to carry, but they are often lost during the course of skiing or at other times. Therefore, it is desirable that a locking device for skis and ski poles be an integral part of the skiing equipment and not require separate pieces.

A satisfactory integral locking device should not interfere with skiing maneuvers and therefore should not unduly protrude from the ski equipment while it is being used. Neither should the device substantially weaken the skiing equipment since most equipment is subjected to severe stresses in use. In addition, the locking device should be easy to operate by a person wearing heavy gloves or having cold fingers.

In accomplishing these objectives, broadly, this invention provides a locking device which is rigidly associated with the ski pole and has cord means to wrap around the equipment and a tree, ski rack, or other immovable fixture before the cord means is locked to the pole to retain the equipment.

In one embodiment, the locking device connects and locks two separable portions of the pole in axial alignment. A cord is connected to one of the separable pole portions and extends into the other. Thus, when the portions are unlocked and separated, the central portion of the cord can encircle a pair of skis and a rack; then, when the portions are reconnected and locked, the pole and skis are securely locked to the rack.

More specifically, an elongated barrel member is affixed to one end of the first pole portion and is in axial alignment with it. The barrel is axially apertured through most of its length with an enlarged diameter bore at its receiving end. An aligning flange extends from the second pole portion into the enlarged diameter bore in snug relationship therewith to maintain the two pole Patented Nov. 28, 1967 portions rigidly in axial alignment. A lock core depends from the aligning flange 'and extends into the bore of the barrel when the other pole portion is in situ. This lock core cooperates with a plurality of locking rings which are rotatably mounted peripherally around the barrel to act as a combination lock. A flexible cord is connected at its one end to the interior of the second portion and extends a substantial distance into the first portion. The center portion of the cord may extend through a slot in the wall of one of the connecting members so that it can be Wrapped around the skis and the rack with the pole portions separated. The ends of the cord remain staked to the pole portions so that when the pole portions are reconnected, the pole may not be removed from the rack without unlocking the two pole portions again.

In another embodiment, the device utilizes a tubular spool which surrounds and is aflixed to the unitary shaft of the ski pole. The flexible cord has one of its ends attached to the spool and is wound around the spool. The cord extends out of an opening in the cylindrical housing, which is rotatably mounted around the spool, so that the cord can encircle the ski rack. The second end of the cord is connected to a member which may be locked to the housing to prevent unauthorized removal of the pole from the rack.

The features and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary set of skis and poles locked to a ski rack;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the locking portion of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the lock portion of a ski pole in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 2, with the flexible cord extended outside of the ski pole locking mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the combination locking rings of the pole of FIG. 2 with a portion cut away to show details of construction;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the locking device of the first embodiment with the lock open;

FIG. 7 is a section view through the lock portion of a ski pole similar to FIG. 3 with the flexible cord disposed interior of the ski pole and locking device therefor;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the ski pole and locking device of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 with the lock insert removed and the housing open; and

FIG. 10 is a section view of the pole and locking device taken along lines 1010 of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of skis 1 and a pair ski poles 2, 3 are shown leaning against an open ski rack 4. A flexible member such as a chain or cord 5 of metal or other suitable material extends out of one ski pole 2 through the basket of the other ski pole 3, through bindings 6 on the skis, around a crossbar 8 on the rack, and back into the ski pole 2. As is shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the cord 5 extends out of the ski pole 2 between the upper grip portion 9 and the lower main shaft portion 10 of the pole. In this manner, the poles and skis are attached to the rack by the cord.

The upper grip portion 9 of the ski pole is connected to the lower shaft portion 10 by a cylindrical female connecting member designated generally as 15, which is illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 6.

An annular sleeve 16 having an external shoulder 17 is tightly held in the upper end of the shaft 10 with the shoulder abutting the upper end of the shaft. The lower end 14 of a cylindrical barrel 18 is tightly contained in the sleeve in axial alignment with the ski pole shaft. The barrel 18 has an axial bore 20 through all but its lower portion. An enlarged diameter collar 19 at the upper end of the barrel 18 has an enlarged diameter axial bore 21 therethrough.

A male connecting member 24 has its upper portion tightly held in the lower end of the grip 9. A depending cylindrical aligning flange 25 of reduced diameter, which is an integral part of the male member 24, is constructed to fit snugly but non-bindingly into the enlarged diameter bore 21 of the collar 19. The aligning flange 25 and collar 19 are of suflicient length to provide a rigid connection and prevent any misalignment between the grip and the shaft when the ski pole is in use. A lug 26 extends radially from the aligning flange and cooperates with a complementary recess 27 in the upper end of the collar 19 to prevent axial rotation of the grip 9 relative to the shaft 10.

A cylindrical lock core 30 is integrally connected to the aligning flange 25 to extend down into the open bore 20 of the barrel 18 when the grip is connected to the shaft 10. Axially aligned teeth 31 extend radially from the core, and are spaced therealong forming cavities 36 between adjacent teeth. The barrel 18 has a longitudinally oriented keyway 32 formed interior of one of its sides (see FIG. 5) to receive the teeth 31 when the core 30 is inserted into the bore 20.

A plurality of locking rings 38 are rotatably but nonslideably mounted around the barrel 18. These locking rings are retained in place on the barrel by the shoulder 17 and by a radially extending shoulder 39 formed by the enlarged diameter collar 19. The structure of a typical locking ring is shown in, FIG. 4. Each ring includes an inwardly extending shoulder or ward 40 with a notch 41 formed therein.

When the lock core 30 is in place in the bore 20, the shoulders 40 ride in the cavities 36 and cooperate with the teeth 31 to prevent removal of the core 30. If each of the rings is rotated to a position where its notch 41 is axially aligned with the teeth 31, the teeth may pass through the notches and the core may be removed.

Each locking ring also includes a small outwardly extending knurled surface 42 by which the skier may rotate the ring to the appropriate position. Numerals on each ring indicate when the ring is rotated to the proper position for unlocking the core 30. For example, in FIG. 6 when the numerals 4-6-3-1 are between the index marks 43 and 44, the notches 41 are all aligned and the core 30 may be removed.

The flexible cord 5 is connected to the interior of the grip 9 by a pin 51 which extends into the male member 24 above the aligning flange 25. During normal use of the ski pole, the flexible cord extends axially downward into the shaft 10 by way of a groove 52 (FIG. 7) in the aligning flange, a groove 53 in the lock core and an opening 54 through the lower-end 14 of the barrel. The grooves and openings are slightly larger in diameter than the cord so that it passes freely therethrough. A weight 55 atthe other end of the flexible cord 5 assures that the cord extends downward into the shaft. This weight is preferably of a resilient material so as to prevent damage to the side of the shaft and to reduce noise.

To connect the flexible cord around an external object, the locking rings 38 are rotated to the appropriate aligned position and the grip is removed from the shaft as shown in FIG. 6. The flexible cord is then wrapped around an external object such as a ski rack and the grip is reconnected to the shaft by reinserting the lock core into the barrel. The locking rings are then rotated from their aligned position to prevent unauthorized removal of the grip by someone not knowing the combination.

When the grip 9 is connected to the shaft 10 with the flexible cord 5 encircling the ski equipment as shown in FIG. 3, the flexible cord passes out of the pole by way of slot 58 in the grip portion and a slot 59 in the collar portion of the barrel member and returns interior of the pole through the slot 59. The weight 55 is too large to pass through the opening 54 in the lower end 14 of the barrel member, and thereby serves as a stop to prevent the cord from being pulled up through the opening 54.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, another embodiment of the ski pole locking device includes a spool 70 having a tubular cylindrical central member 71 fitted tightly around the shaft and aflixed thereto by rivets 76. A pair of annular end walls 72, 73 extend radially outward from opposite ends of the central member 71 to complete the spool.

A hollow cylindrical housing 78 which covers the spool includes a main portion 79 and a pair of annular end walls 80, 81 extending radially into the shaft from opposite ends of the main portion. The housing 78 is free tov rotate on the shaft 10 about the spool 70.

One end wall 72 of the spool has a plurality of arcuately spaced apertures 85 therethrough, which are adapted to successively register with an aperture 86 formed through the adjacent end wall 80 of the housing as the housing is rotated. A locking insert 69 having a lock core 88 which is insertable through the registered apertures 85, 86 selectively prevents rotation of the housing relative to the spool.

A flexible cord 5 is attached at one end to the central member 71 of the spool, and the major portion of the cord 5 is wound around the spool. The opposite end of the cord extends through a slot shaped opening 90 in the housing 78 and is attached to an elongated cover plate 91 which forms a part of the lock insert 69. The cover plate is connected to the lock core 88 by a connecting plate 92.

When the lock core 88 is in place in the housing 78, the cover plate 91 overlies all but a small portion of the opening 90 in order tokeep snow and foreign matter out the housing. An ear 94 depending from the housing 78 overhangs the cover plate to prevent it from rotating counterclockwise.

The lock core has a plurality of spaced apart grooves or cavities 96 formed in one side to define spaced teeth 97. A plurality of spaced arcuate locking plates or wards 100 are designed to cooperate with the cavities and teeth of the lock core 88 to provide a combination lock.

Each locking plate 100 is slideably mounted between a pair of spaced guide-plates 101, 102 which depend from the interior surface of the housing. An arcuate plate 103 retains the locking plates in place in the guide plates. The arcuate plate 103 has a longitudinal channel 107 aligned with the aperture 86 in the housing end wall 80 to serve as a keyway for the lock core 88. When the lock core is in placein the keyway 107, the locking plates 100 depend interior of the cavities 96 and cooperate with the teeth 97' to prevent removal of the insert 69.

Each locking plate 100 includes a notch 106 at a selected location intermediate its ends. When each of the locking plates 100 is rotated in its guide plates 101, 102 to align all of the notches 106 with the aperture 86, the teeth clear the plates and the insert 69 may be removed.

A series of arcuate slots 110 are formed in the cover member 78 overlying the locking plates so that tabs 111, which are formed on the locking plates, extend through their associated slots. The tabs are used to manually slide the locking plates 100 in the guide plates to operate the lock. Numerals on the housing adjacent each slot indicate the position of the locking plate. For example, when the tabs are respectively at numerals 345-2, as

shown in FIG. 8, the notches are all properly aligned so that the lock insert 69 may be inserted or removed.

A part of the housing 78 may be hinged, as at 115, to open as shown in FIG. 9, thus exposing the spool and lock mechanism for maintenance. During normal use, it can be securely held in its closed position by rivets or other suitable fasteners (not shown).

In using this alternative embodiment, to lock the ski pole to an external object, the notches of the locking plates are aligned and the lock core is temporarily removed. The housing is rotated around the spool while unwinding the flexible cord, until the desired length is extended. The cord is then wrapped around the external object and the lock core is reinserted. With the core in place, the locking plates are rotated from their aligned positions so that the core can be removed only by a person knowing the combination of the lock. Thus, the ski pole is protected against unauthorized removal from the ski rack or other immovable fixture.

This invention provides an easily operated device which may be used to secure ski poles and other equipment to a ski rack or the like. It may be readily installed in a standard ski polethe embodiment of FIGS. 27by removing a short length of the pole shaft and inserting the sleeve 16 in the lower shaft portion and the male member 24 in the grip portion, and in the embodiment of FIGS. 8-10, by attaching the spool and housing around the shaft. No key, padlock or chain separate from the ski pole is required. Yet, the device is relatively fool proof and prevents mistaken removal of the equipment.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the locking rings are the only evidence of the anti-theft device during normal use of the pole. In that of FIG. 8 only the housing and related parts are visible. None of these protrude sufliciently, however, to bother the skier. In either case, the flexible cord is completely out of the way during normal use of the ski pole.

The above-described preferred embodiments of this invention should be considered exemplary only, and the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An improved ski pole and locking device, comprising:

(a) a hollow shaft and a grip adapted for removable connection to form a ski pole;

(b) flexible means normally contained within said pole and adapted for extension to attach the pole to a fixed external object;

(c) means for connecting and locking said grip to said shaft to permit normal use of the pole when said flexible means is retracted and to prevent detachment of the pole from the fixed object when said flexible means is extended, said connecting and locking means comprising (d) an annular sleeve tightly contained in the upper end of said shaft,

(e) an elongated cylindrical barrel member having its lower portion tightly contained in said sleeve and having an axial bore through all but its lower portion,

(f) an enlarged diameter collar including an enlarged diameter bore at the upper end of said barrel member,

(g) a cylindrical aligning flange extending downward from said grip and adapted for removable insertion into said collar to maintain the grip and shaft in axial alignment,

(h) a lock core extending downward from said aligning flange for insertion into said barrel bore,

(i) a plurality of aligned locking teeth spaced along the length of said lock core and adapted to extend through a keyway in one side of said barrel member,

(j) a plurality of locking rings rotatably mounted around said barrel member,

(k) an internal ward on each said locking ring for 8 v overlaying a respective one of said teeth to lock said lock core in said barrel member, each said ward having a notch formed at one point in its circumference so that when all said notches are aligned with said teeth, the grip may be removed from the shaft,

(1) indicia on each said ring for indicating the aligned position of said notches,

(In) means on said grip and said shaft for preventing axial rotation of said grip relative to said shaft when connected thereto; and said flexible means com prising,

(n) a flexible cord connected at its one end to the iriterior of said grip above said lock core and extending downward therefrom a substantial distance into said hollow shaft through apertures in said aligning flange, core, and barrel,

(0) stop means at the lower end of said cord to prevent it from moving upward through the opening in said barrel; and,

(p) a slot in said collar in registry with said apertures to permit said cord to extend out of said slot, around the fixed object and back through said slot, whereby said locking means may be unlocked to permit said grip to be removed from said shaft for wrapping said flexible cord around the fixed object and relocked with said grip reconnected to said shaft to prevent theft of the ski pole.

2. A locking device for a ski pole comprising:

(a) a spool adapted to be mounted around the shaft of a ski pole including a tubular cylindrical central part, and

a pair of spool ends extending radially from said central portion, one of said spool ends having a plurality of arcuately spaced apertures therethrough;

(b) a flexible cord having one of its ends aflixed to said spool and its major portion selectively wound thereon;

(c) a housing rotatably mounted on said shaft and enclosing said spool, including a wall having an aperture therethrough in position to register with successive ones of said spool apertures as said housing is rotated relative to the spool, and

an opening formed in the housing through which the second end of said cord extends exterior thereof;

(d) a locking member having the other end of said cord attached thereto adapted to be removably connected to said housing and spool, including an elongated core adapted for insertion through said housing Wall aperture and the registered one of said spool end apertures to connect said locking member to said housing and to fix said housing relative to said spool,

a plurality of axially spaced teeth on said core,

and

a cover plate affixed to said core covering at least a portion of said housing opening when said locking member is connected to the housing;

(e) locking means interior of said housing to cooperate with said core for selectively locking said core against removal from its inserted position, including a plurality of arcuate locking plates axially spaced along the interior surface of said housing, each having a ward portion engaging said teeth to prevent insertion and removal of said core, a notch permitting the teeth to pass beyond said locking plates when said notches are aligned with said housing aperture and means extending through said housing for manually moving said locking plates circumferentially relative to said housing to position said wards in accordance with the combination of said lock, and

7 a plurality of spaced guide means for restricting 21,350,799 axial and radial movement of said locking plates 3,228,217 relative to said housing; and, 3,297,333 (f) indicia for indicating the position of alignment of said locking plate notches. 5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,472,206 10/1923 Burkle 7030 8 6/1944- Morris --.l.. l '70-59 1/1966 Atwill 7058 1/ 1967 Schwedt et al. 7058 FOREIGN PATENTS.

2/1947 Switzerland.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN IMPROVED SKI POLE AND LOCKING DEVICE, COMPRISING: (A) A HOLLOW SHAFT AND A GRIP ADAPTED FOR REMOVABLE CONNECTION TO FORM A SKI POLE; (B) FLEXIBLE MEANS NORMALLY CONTAINED WITHIN SAID POLE AND ADAPTED FOR EXTENSION TO ATTACH THE POLE TO A FIXED EXTERNAL OBJECT; (C) MEANS FOR CONNECTING AND LOCKING SAID GRIP TO SAID SHAFT TO PERMIT NORMAL USE OF THE POLE WHEN SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS IS RETRACTED AND TO PREVENT DETACHMENT OF THE POLE FROM THE FIXED OBJECT WHEN SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS IS EXTENDED, SAID CONNECTING AND LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING (D) AN ANNULAR SLEEVE TIGHTLY CONTAINED IN THE UPPER END OF SAID SHAFT, (E) AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL BARREL MEMBER HAVING ITS LOWER PORTION TIGHTLY CONTAINED IN SAID SLEEVE AND HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THROUGH ALL BUT ITS LOWER PORTION, (F) AN ENLARGED DIAMETER COLLAR INCLUDING AN ENLARGED DIAMETER BORE AT THE UPPER END OF SAID BARREL MEMBER, (G) A CYLINDRICAL ALIGNING FLANGE EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM SAID GRIP AND ADAPTED FOR REMOVABLE INSERTION INTO SAID COLLAR TO MAINTAIN THE GRIP AND SHAFT IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT, (H) A LOCK CORE EXTENDING DOWNWARD FROM SAID ALIGNING FLANGE FOR INSERTION INTO SAID BARREL BORE, (I) A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED LOCKING TEETH SPACED ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID LOCK CORE AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND THROUGH A KEYWAY IN ONE SIDE OF SAID BARREL MEMBER, (J) A PLURALITY OF LOCKING RINGS ROTATABLY MOUNTED AROUND SAID BARREL MEMBER, (K) AN INTERNAL WARD ON EACH SAID LOCKING RING FOR OVERLAYING A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID TEETH TO LOCK SAID LOCK CORE IN SAID BARREL MEMBER, EACH SAID WARD HAVING A NOTCH FORMED AT ONE POINT IN ITS CIRCUMFERENCE SO THAT WHEN ALL SAID NOTCHES ARE ALIGNED WITH SAID TEETH, THE GRIP MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE SHAFT, (L) INDICIA ON EACH SAID RING FOR INDICATING THE ALIGNED POSITION OF SAID NOTCHES, (M) MEANS ON SAID GRIP AND SAID SHAFT FOR PREVENTING AXIAL ROTATION OF SAID GRIP RELATIVE TO SAID SHAFT WHEN CONNECTED THERETO; AND SAID FLEXIBLE MEANS COMPRISING, (N) A FLEXIBLE CORD CONNECTED AT ITS ONE END TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID GRIP ABOVE SAID LOCK CORE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARD THEREFROM A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE INTO SAID HOLLOW SHAFT THROUGH APERTURES IN SAID ALIGNING FLANGE, CORE, AND BARREL, (O) STOP MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID CORD TO PREVENT IT FROM MOVING UPWARD THROUGH THE OPENING IN SAID BARREL; AND (P) A SLOT IN SAID COLLAR IN REGISTRY WITH SAID APERTURES TO PERMIT SAID CORD TO EXTEND OUT OF SAID SLOT, AROUND THE FIXED OBJECT AND BACK THROUGH SAID SLOT, WHEREBY SAID LOCKING MEANS MAY BE UNLOCKED TO PERMIT SAID GRIP TO BE REMOVED FROM SAID SHAFT FOR WRAPPING SAID FLEXIBLE CORD AROUND THE FIXED OBJECT AND RELOCKED WITH SAID GRIP RECONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT TO PREVENT THEFT OF THE SKI POLE. 